REPORTS for 2003 by Treorchy WI Secretary Sheila Ellis.

NOVEMBER 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs. Pauline Worman welcomed members to the November meeting. Our thoughts are with Joyce on the recent death of her mother and to Dorothy who is Mrs. Morgan’s daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Judith James has been appointed Treasurer for the coming year. Members were invited to attend the service of Remembrance in St. Matthew’s Church.

A competition has been organised for the Gwyneth Jarman Plate, this year it is an Easter toy, any medium. Congratulations to WI member Carolyn Davies on becoming a WI Adviser.

Outings Secretary Eira Richards said that money due this evening is for our Christmas shopping trip to Bath, and also Eira needs to know how many members will require the coach to Penrhys Golf Club.

Sadly, Eira informed the meeting that she will be retiring as Outings Secretary after 8 years and asked if anyone would be interested in taking on this post. Our President thanked Eira for all the hard work she has put in over the years to make our trips so enjoyable.

Our Christmas Fete will be held on the 15^th November and members were asked to support this event in any way they could.

The Performing Arts Group will be putting on a show in the RAFA Club on the 26^th November. Unfortunately, in the Annual Report we omitted to thank Anne Thomas for her invaluable contribution to the Performing Arts as Choreographer, our apologies Anne.

Future events include our Service of Readings and Carols to be held in St. Matthew’s Church on the 16^th December, coffee and mince pies will be served in the Church Hall afterwards and our Mince Pie Night will be held on the on the 18^th December.

Enid welcomed and introduced our guests for the evening, members of the Any Questions Forum Panel – Cennard Davies, Bethan Guilfoyle, Mary Williams and Mal Wilkinson with Margaret Evans as Chairperson.

This as always was a very enjoyable evening with the panel members giving very informative and amusing answers to the wide range of questions put to them.

Our President, Pauline, thanked the Panel for their very interesting contribution to the evening.

Thanks also to Anna and Enid for arranging the Forum.

The raffle was won by Anne Thomas, Ellen Hughes and Jean Toghill.

OCTOBER 2003

President Mrs Pauline Worman welcomed WI Adviser Kath Mempham and members to the October meeting, which was the Annual General Meeting.

The President read letters from Margaret Powell and Teg Curnell both congratulating Anna Brown and our Kitchen Band for representing Glamorgan in the Eisteddfod at Aberyswyth and making everyone proud of their really good efforts.

Members were saddened by the death of former WI member Eifron Lewis, who will always be remembered as Eifron embroidered our WI banner and we shall think of her every time it is used.

Olwen’s husband’s operation was unfortunately cancelled. Our love and best wishes go to Joyce’s mother and also Beryl’s mother who are both in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. The condition of Caryl Hughes remains much the same.

Kath Memphan welcomed tellers Lily Evans and Lilian Evans from Treherbert WI.

The Choir are very pleased to welcome Sioned Dutfield as their new accompanist.

Mrs Enid Davies reported that the Performing Arts Group will be putting on a show in the RAFA Club next month.

The recent show at the Phoenix Theatre had been an outstanding success and Enid wished to thank, on behalf of everyone, Margaret Wilkins who is phenomenal in all she does for the group in visiting all the charity shops for different outfits for the shows, and also taping most of the music.

Thanks to Anna who makes all the lovely costumes, to Beth who sees to the makeup and of course to Pauline without whom there would be no shows.

Our Treasurer, Edna Morgan, presented the financial statement for the year 2002-2003. The Annual Report was read and adopted.

In her address, the President thanked the Committee and members for their loyal support during the year. Special thanks to Betty Jones, Anna Brown and Enid Davies, who would be standing down from the Committee this year.

The President thanked Edna, our Treasurer, who is unfortunately retiring this year and who always made the hard job as treasurer look so easy.

Thanks to the various groups who make the WI such a success; Anita for one of our busiest groups - the Kitchen Band; Mary for the Choir; Lettie for the Craft Class; Mair for the Yoga Class; and Enid for the Performing Arts Group.

Thanks to Glenys and Avis for the ever-welcome cup of tea, our Outings Secretary Eira for organising our trips so brilliantly and to Betty for collecting our savings every month.

Committee for 2003-2004: Vice President Milwyn Pearce, Secretary Sheila Ellis, Outings Secretary Eira Richards.

Committee Members: Anita Bound, Eirlys Davies, Judith James, Beryl Jones, Marion Jones, Edna Morgan, Ann Phillips, Ann Thomas.

By a unanimous vote Mrs Pauline Worman was elected as President for the coming year.

Mrs Joyce Davies’ corsage was chosen to go forward to the Half Yearly Council Meeting at the end of the month.

The raffle was won by Betty Jones, Enid Davies and Nan Price.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs. Pauline Worman welcomed members to the September meeting, with a special welcome to guests Sylvia Hughes, Sally Williams and Mair Lockhart.

Olwen Milward’s husband Les will be going to a London Hospital later this month for surgery, our thoughts and good wishes go with them.

We continue to keep Caryl Hughes in our thoughts who is still poorly in hospital.

Members were asked to make a note of the following dates: Christmas Féte – 15^th November at 10am, Carol Service - 16^th December and Mince Pie Night - 18^th December.

Members were asked to support the Half Yearly Council Meeting in Porthcawl especially as it will be Teg Curnell’s first meeting as Chairperson.

The competition for this year’s meeting is a corsage, which may be made out of silk or real flowers. Members with a flair for this were asked to make a corsage for the October meeting and the one chosen would go forward to the Council Meeting.

Outings Secretary Eira Richards said lists were up for our forthcoming show in the Phoenix Theatre, Inter-Federation Bilingual Eisteddfod in Aberyswyth The Half Yearly Council Meeting and the Christmas Shopping trip to Bath on the 6^th December.

Eira thanked all those who had supported the Worcester trip and looked forward to their continued support on future trips. Posters were also up for Lectures at Pencoed College and a Concert in the Hawthorn Leisure Centre organised by Crossroads.

Our guest speaker for the evening was Yvonne Garrard who gave a very interesting talk on the love of her life – “dancing”.

Yvonne knew from a very early age that this was all she ever wanted to do, and after training took part in all sorts of pantomimes and shows, meeting lots of famous people along the way.

Yvonne brought along photographs and programmes as well as costumes, which was of interest to us all.

Milwyn Pearce gave the vote of thanks and Avril Evans, Joyce Davies and Diane John won the raffle.

AUGUST 2003

The August meeting of Treorchy WI was our annual trip when we revisited Worcester.

The weather was hot and sunny and members enjoyed a look around Worcester Porcelain, a leisurely walk along the river, taking in a boat trip and the very brave spent an hour or so browsing the shops.

On the homeward journey we stopped at the Old Court Hotel in Symmond’s Yat, for a  bar meal and a chance to relax in the lovely hotel gardens before finally setting off for home.

We wish to reiterate Milwyn’s thanks to Eira for organising such and enjoyable day – thank you Eira.

We look forward to next month’s meeting as which Yvonne Garrard will be our guest speaker.

JULY 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs Pauline Worman welcomed members to the July meeting with a special warm welcome back to Amy Thomas. Unfortunately there appears to be little change in Carys Hughes’s condition – we shall continue to keep her in our thoughts.

Our President wished Christine and John Evans a happy time at Buckingham Palace and said we shall all be eagerly waiting to hear how the day went.

We have two teams who wish to enter the GFWI Quiz on the 17^th September.

Our President informed the meeting that she attended the 80^th Anniversary Garden Party at Margam and thoroughly enjoyed the day where many members were dressed to perfection.

A proposal was put to the meeting that the number of WI’s in our Group be increased to five, enabling Ferndale and Tonyrefail Institutes to join Treherbert, Treorchy and Ton WI’s. This was agreed unanimously by the meeting.

Members were interested in the photograph in the Newsletter of the new GFWI’s Chairlady who is of course Margaret Harris's sister Tegwen. We wish her well in her new venture.

Outings Secretary, Eira, informed the meeting that money due this evening was for the Royal Welsh Show and for the outing to Worcester in August.

Lists were up for the supporters’ bus for the Eisteddfod in Aberystwyth in September and for the Half Yearly Council Meeting in Porthcawl.

Our guest speaker for the evening was Kath Mempham who gave a very enjoyable demonstration on how to make a delicious mushroom soup, a tasty cheese paté, followed by a mouth-watering rice pudding with apricots.

Kath made the cooking look oh so easy (which she did under very cramped conditions) and was ably assisted by Caroline with everyone enjoying tasting the end products. We look forward to having Kath back again at some future time.

The vote of thanks was given by Christine Jones and the raffle was won by Jean Kinsey, Glenys Vincent and Ursula Slocombe.

JUNE 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs. Pauline Worman welcomed members to the June meeting.

Our continued special thoughts are with Caryl Hughes who is still poorly.

Congratulations to Christine and John Evans who have been invited to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

The NFWI Eisteddfod will be held in Aberystwyth on the 27^th September and members were asked to support our Kitchen Band who will be taking part on stage, and Anna Brown’s written work and Kath Davies’ photograph will also be going forward to this Eisteddfod.

The meeting was informed the Ton WI have purchased a plate in memory of the late Gwyneth Jarman. It was hoped to hold an annual competition between Ton, Treherbert and Treorchy WI’s for the honour of holding the plate for one year. All the members were enthusiastic about this competition and we look forward to meeting our friends from both WI’s for this annual event.

A quiz has been arranged by GFWI and this will be held in St Matthew’s Church Hall on the 17^th September.

Various items of interest in the newsletter were looked at and Mrs Eira Richards our Outings Secretary said that lists were up for the Royal Welsh Show on the 23^rd July and our Annual Trip to Worcester on the 7^th August where we shall be stopping on the way home at the Old Court Hotel in Symmond’s Yat for a two-course meal.

Our guest speaker for the evening was Mr Paul Brooks who spoke about aromatherapy and came with an array of various herbal oils, sprays and lotions all manufactured in Switzerland.

The raffle was won by Mary Price, Mair Bowen and Averil Bowen.

MAY 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs Pauline Worman welcomed members to the May meeting. Our best wishes for a speedy recovery are sent to Carys Hughes who is still poorly.

Congratulations to Teg Curnell (sister of WI member Margaret Harries) on her appointment as Federation Chairman.

The Secretary thanked Anna for taking the minutes of the last Committee Meeting.

Our President was presented with the Eisteddfod Shield at the Council Meeting on the 29^th of April. We also won the Jackie Bridle Plate for the most endeavour in the Performing Arts, this plate being awarded to Ann Thomas for her wonderful mime of the Raspberry Song.

Outings Secretary Eira Richards informed members that posters were up for the Drama Evening at the Phoenix Theatre on the 4^th June, the 80th Anniversary Garden Party, the Royal Welsh Show, our annual trip to Worcester and also the weekend trip to London on the 10^th-12^th October.

Members then considered the three Resolutions to go forward to the AGM.

Christine Jones put forward the arguments for and against Vocational Training, Anna Brown on the Care of Older People, and Milwyn Pearce on Children’s Diets.

All three made the subjects both lively and interesting, and members enjoyed the views put forward by each group.

The raffle was won by Mary Webb, Joyce Evans and Margaret Haskins.

APRIL 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs. Pauline Worman welcomed members to the April Meeting.

The President offered condolences to Mair Dance on the recent sad loss of her husband. Mair’s children, Susan and Michael, thanked members of Treorchy WI for their kind messages of sympathy and help at St Matthew’s Church Hall following the funeral.

Members were also sorry to hear that one of our oldest members, Mrs. Britten, had passed away in March.

Good wishes for a speedy recovery are sent to Caryl Hughes.

The President thanked all those who had helped to make the Group meeting such a success. Those who entertained, helped with the refreshments and also our back stage helpers. The hard work and professionalism of the back stage crew helped make a polished performance.

At the Eisteddfod at Port Talbot, Treorchy retained the shield with a grand total of 77 points.

Anna Brown gained 1^st place with her short story and her lyric, also taking 2^nd prize with her magazine article and her limerick, and was also highly commended for her second short story.

Anna’s hat and handbag entries taking 1^st and 3^rd prizes (made out of supermarket plastic bags) would even look good in Ascot.

Other entry winners were our Choral Speaking Group - 2^nd. Bathroom Band - 1^s. Choir - 2^nd. Musical Mime - Ann Thomas 1^st , with Mary Price and Ursula Slocombe joint 3^rd. Duet - 3^rd. Hymn - Kath Davies 3^rd. Spontaneous Dialogue - Milwyn and Dianne - 3^rd. Monocrome Drawing - Diane 3^rd, Beth highly commended. Cartoon - Dianne 3^rd. Poster - Beth 1^st. Photography - Kath Davies 1^st. Cushion - Jean highly commended. Monologue – Kath and Judith joint 3^rd. Silent Mime – Mary Price 1^st. Limerick – Pauline and Pat Scane joint 3^rd.

Members were invited to the forthcoming Gymanfa Ganu at Carmel Chapel Treherbert on 13^th April where Mrs. Mary Price would be Guest Conductor.

Mrs. Eira Richards, Outings Secretary, said lists were up for the Council Meeting in Barry and also for various trips.

Our guest speaker was Denman Representative Carolyn Davies who gave a very interesting talk on the courses available at Denman College.

MARCH 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs Pauline Worman welcomed members to the March meeting.

Members were saddened to hear of the recent death of Megan Smith, a former member of Treorchy WI.

All entries were now in for the forthcoming Eisteddfod. The Performing Arts Group are rehearsing diligently for our Group Meeting, which takes place at the end of this month. 

The Choir, Kitchen Band and Choral Speaking are also practising hard for the Eisteddfod.

Our Outings Secretary, Eira Richards, informed members that lists were up for the Group Meeting and also the Eisteddfod.

Forthcoming trips included the Royal Welsh Show, a proposed trip in August instead of our monthly meeting, and also a weekend trip to London in the Autumn.

Also up was a list for those wishing to attend the Annual Council Meeting in Barry. Guest Speakers this year are National Federation Chairman Helen Carey, and in the afternoon Tricia Stewart one of the original “Calendar Girls” - it will be interesting to see what she will be wearing!

Members then enjoyed a Ham and Salad Supper. Our President thanked the Committee for arranging the supper, and special thanks to Carolyn for once again doing all the shopping, which is no mean feat.

Carolyn will be our guest speaker at our April Meeting, when she will give a talk on Denman College.

The raffle was won by Lyndis Elliott, Ann Thomas and Mair Humphreys.

FEBRUARY 2003

Treorchy WI President Mrs. Pauline Worman welcomed members to the February meeting. Our thoughts are with Eirwen Savage whose mother died recently and Olwen Milward on the death of her brother-in-law.

It was good to see Mair (Blaen) with us this evening – Mair recently sustained a nasty fall injuring her ribs and wrist.

Many members were unable to attend due to the cold virus which is going around, particularly poorly are Enid, Eira and Betty Jones – good wishes for a full recovery are sent to all those who are out of sorts.

Members were reminded that next month will be our St. David’s Day Supper. Any member who was not at the February meeting and wishes to come to the supper can give their name to the President or any committee member - we would like to see as many members as possible at the Supper.

Lists were also up for the Group Meeting on the 27^th March and the Eisteddfod on the 29^th March – members were urged to support both these events. Forms were available for the Fitness Challenge.

The President read an interesting article concerning pension payment changes, which will affect most of our members.

Our guest speakers for the evening were Steve Brinkworth and Sara Jenkins from the Citizens Advice Bureau. They gave an interesting talk on the valuable work done by the Bureau to help members of the public who find themselves with varying problems from debt to housing.

The raffle was won by Esme Holmes, Jean Toghill and Ray Caesar.

At last month’s meeting, our Craft Class displayed a variety of beautifully made cushions, cards and decoupage.

We were all in awe of this lovely work which our dedicated members obviously love doing.

JANUARY 2003

Treorchy President Mrs Pauline Worman welcomed members to the January meeting and wished everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Congratulations to Glenys Vincent who celebrated her Golden Wedding Anniversary over the festive season and also our love and best wishes to Mair Humphreys who had a very special birthday on the 26^th December.

Thanks to Joyce Davies for arranging the Christmas Hamper.

Swimmers and walkers amongst our members are encouraged to take part in the GFWI 80^th Anniversary Fitness Challenge.

Members were also reminded that those interested in taking part in the Eisteddfod needed to give their names to the Secretary.

Rehearsals will be starting for the Group Meeting and anyone interested in taking part should please get in touch with Enid.

Members then enjoyed a social evening taking part in a Quiz organised by Pauline and then making up limericks for the forthcoming Eisteddfod.

The raffle was won by Marian Jones, Eira Richards and Judith Davies.

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